Norwegian collector returns 2 Angkor artifacts to Cambodia

A Norwegian businessman on Tuesday returned two Khmer artifacts from his private collection to Cambodia.

Morten Bosterud, chairman of a chiropractic and acupuncture clinic in Oslo, handed over a 9th century Head of Shiva God and a late 12th century Head of Male Divinity to Cambodian Culture and Fine Arts Minister Phoeurng Sackona.

In addition to the two Angkorian artifacts, Morten also donated nine other pieces of art works, that the Cambodian Ministry of Culture determined were not genuine antiquities, to Cambodia.

Addressing the handover ceremony at the National Museum here, Phoeurng Sackona expressed gratitude to Morten for his return of Khmer artifacts to their homeland.

"Your noble decision and very kind gesture to return the Cambodian artifacts reflects the support for combating illegal trafficking of antiquities that Royal Government of Cambodia is paying very close attention," she said.

The minister said numerous Cambodian artifacts had been stolen and illegally trafficked out of Cambodia during the 1970s when the country fell into civil war.

According to Hor Namhong, Morten also covered the costs of transport to send the artifacts back to Cambodia.

In his speech, Morten did not say how and when he acquired the antiquities.

"I'm certain that the National Museum in Phnom Penh will take good care of the objects, showing them to the public and using them for educational purposes," he said.

In the last three years, auction houses and museums in the United States had returned six looted ancient statues to Cambodia, while Thailand returned 16 smuggled ancient treasures to the country. Enditem